Why is your smoke alarm beeping randomly? How and when to change the batteries on your smoke alarm? Keep reading to see our answers to the most frequently asked questions when it comes to smoke alarms and fire safety!
Why is your smoke alarm beeping or chirping randomly?
The most common reason causing smoke alarms to beep briefly or without a regular pattern are low batteries. Checking that the batteries are full and correctly installed should be the first thing you try to fix this issue.
Please note that the new Jalo Helsinki 10-year smoke alarm models don’t have replaceable batteries at all. If you need help replacing batteries on your Kupu or Lento Original smoke alarm, see this video.
It’s normal for a smoke alarm to beep or chirp temporarily after installation or battery change. If this doesn’t stop within 10 minutes, it can be a sign of faulty operation. Refer to your manufacturer’s user manual for further instructions.
If changing the batteries doesn’t fix the issue, pay attention to the environmental conditions surrounding your smoke alarm. Condensation caused by humidity or steam, extreme temperature changes and excess air flow can all cause your smoke alarm to chirp randomly. If you need help finding a right place to install your smoke alarm, see this post.
Why does your smoke alarm give false alarms?
If your smoke alarm repeatedly gives false alarms, make sure it’s placed correctly in your home. Avoid installing smoke alarms in the kitchen, near humid spaces or in the way of air flows.
Accumulation of dust may also trigger false alarms. Try gently vacuuming your smoke alarms once a month to prevent this from happening. See this post on installing and maintaining your smoke alarms for more.
If your smoke alarms are hardwired and keep giving false alarms, chances are the cause of those are in power interruptions (especially if the alarm keeps going off randomly during the night) or loose connections.
How to change batteries in your smoke alarms?
You should test your smoke alarms once a month and change the batteries at least once a year. Changing the batteries is a fairly simple process, and most smoke alarms work in a similar way:
- Remove the device from the mounting plate by slightly twisting it.
- Replace the batteries. Make sure to use a full new battery every time.
- Re-attach the device to the mounting plate by twisting in the opposite direction and waiting for it to click in to place.
- Test your smoke alarm by pressing the test surface or button. The alarm should beep or chirp to signal it’s working properly.
If you need more help with detaching the device from the mounting plate, see this guide with pictures.
How often should you replace your smoke alarms?
Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. This is something a homeowner should be aware of since an expired alarm doesn’t work correctly.
These days many smoke alarms — like Jalo’s Kupu 10 and Lento 10 — come with a 10-year non-replaceable battery which helps to track the life cycle of your smoke alarms.
Have more questions?
For more help with your smoke alarm, see:
If you need help identifying whether your Jalo smoke alarm is the original Kupu or Lento model (with a replaceable 5-year battery) or the new Kupu 10 or Lento 10 (with a fixed battery) see this page.